A CHEQUE for almost £5,000 which was raised by Chippenham Golf Club has been presented to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA).

Former club captain Pat Blake choose the WAA after witnessing ex-club professional, Bill Creamer, suffer a heart attack, collapse and require help of the ambulance crew last year.

“You don’t appreciate until you see it first hand, how important it is having this crucial emergency service,” said Mr Blake.

“Over the last few years we have sadly had the need to call upon the WAA to the club and we can’t thank them enough for their help.

“Bill would be the first to agree that without their help he wouldn’t be here today.”

The £4,700 was raised over the year through a number of events including a monthly quiz night, and captain’s drive-in and swan-song.

“I also dedicated a bunker on the course as the captain’s bunker which anyone entering the bunker had to pay a fee, that has been very generous in itself,” added Mr Blake.

“And one of our members, Charlie Hunt, has been selling off his produce from his allotment and all proceeds again donated to the charity.”

The cheque was handed over to partnerships co-ordinator at WAA, Valerie Whistler, and paramedic Keith Mills last week at the golf club.

Mrs Whistler said: “We are absolutely thrilled at the fantastic amount of money raised, £4,700 is an incredibly generous donation.

“We rely almost entirely on public donations to keep flying and need to raise £3.25 million each year, that’s £8,904 a day.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to Pat and everyone at Chippenham Golf Club for choosing to support WAA and working hard to help us to save lives.”